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CAN'T FIND SOMETHING? |
Business in Vancouver December 30, 2008-January 5, 2009; issue 1001 Mandy Farmer President and CEO, Accent Inns, Age: 35 Victoria’s Mandy Farmer knows all about family. As a married mother of two young children and chief executive of family-owned Accent Inns Inc., she cultivates a corporate culture that nurtures family values. As a past president of the Canadian Association of Family Enterprises, she helped spur a 10% increase in membership. But balancing work and life has required strict boundaries, she said. “When I come home I have to remember I’m not a CEO anymore,” said Farmer. “I really have to make sure I keep the two very distinct.” Being appointed president and CEO of the hotel chain this past June is a career highlight, especially considering she started out as chambermaid and worked her way up to leading the senior management team. Having Accent Inns named as one of the best places in B.C. to work is a goal that is close to her heart and one she hopes to realize during her tenure. “It is important that people come to work, that they want to come to work and that they love to come to work. That in turn makes everyone’s job a little bit easier and, of course, your customers want to come and stay with you if it is a fun and dynamic place.” Farmer is prepared to lead during the current economic turbulence after witnessing as a vice-president how Accent’s management team dealt with the difficult times the hospitality industry experienced after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and subsequent downturns linked to the SARS outbreak and foreign wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. “It’s fascinating to see how calm we all are after experiencing such turmoil,” said Farmer. “It’s unfortunate that we could not have had more prosperous years, but because it is so soon afterwards, I think that the lessons learned are very fresh.” • Birthplace: Victoria Where do you live now: Victoria Highest level of education: MBA, Royal Roads University Car or chosen mode of transport: Santa Cruz superlite dual suspension mountain bike Currently reading: The Book of Negroes: A Novel by Lawrence Hill; A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose by Eckhart Tolle; and The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary by Mark Sanborn Last CD bought or music downloaded: Hercules and Love Affair – Self Titled Favourite movie: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind Favourite local restaurant: Stage Profession you would most like to try: Fashion designer Mentor: My father, Terry Farmer, when it comes to business, and my husband, Geoffrey Wong, for living a full and balanced life Toughest business or professional decision: Personnel issues always seem the hardest: Who’s the right candidate to hire and whom do you fire? What’s left to do: Continue our quest to be the best little hotel chain in B.C., expand Accent Inns across B.C. and into Alberta, be named one of the best places to work in B.C. and get my adorable kids out of diapers |
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